Wednesday, July 19, 2017

the super secret Simca test track in Mortefontaine forest, 25 miles north of Paris

Henri Pigozzi, owner of Simca, decided that he needed a tool his engineers could discretely use to develop their new models. The landowner, Count de Gramont, agreed to lend his land for 30 years to the projects of his hunting partner.

Just over 2 miles long, its route was a synthesis of all the difficulties of a road network.

Fast curves, tight turns, uneven slopes, pins, sinuous portions at high speeds, long straight lines, everything is there, interspersed with paved areas and wet passages. In the middle, large asphalted areas make it possible to carry out braking tests as well as crash tests in complete safety.

In 1968 Chrysler bought Simca, and got the track, then it was transferred to
Peugeot-Citroën in 1978 when it acquired Chrysler Europe.
In 1988, it was taken over by Valeo, which sold it to
Pininfarina in 2003.

Today, the facilities are owned by UTAC (Union Technique de l'Automobile of the Motorcycle and Cycle), which also has the Montlhéry test center and its famous autodrome.